Minerals and essential amino acids of bovine colostrum: Phenotypic variability and predictive ability of mid- and near-infrared spectroscopy.

Colostrum quality and volume are fundamental for calves because it is the primary supplier of antibodies and the first source of energy, carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, minerals, and vitamins for the newborn. Assessing the detailed composition (i.e., AA and mineral content) of bovine colostrum (BC) on-line and at a reasonable cost would help dairy stakeholders such as farmers or veterinarians for precision feeding purposes and industries producing preparations containing BC such as foodstuff, supplements, and medicaments. In the present study we evaluated mid- (MIRS) and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) prediction ability for AA and mineral composition of individual BC. Second, we the investigated the major factors affecting the phenotypic variability of such traits also evaluating the correlations with the Ig concentration. Results demonstrated that MIRS and NIRS were able to provide sufficiently accurate predictions for all the AA. The coefficient of determination in external validation (R2V) fell, in fact, within the range of 0.70 to 0.86, with the exception of Ile, His, and Met. Only some minerals reached a sufficient accuracy (i.e., Ca, P, S, and Mg; R2V ≥ 0.66) using MIRS, and also S (R2V = 0.87) using NIRS. Phenotypically, both parity and calving season affected the variability of these BC composition traits. Heifers' colostrum was the one with the greatest concentration of Ca and P, the 2 most abundant minerals. These minerals were however very low in cows calving in summer compared with the rest of the year. The pattern of AA across parities and calving season was not linear, likely because their variability was scarcely (or not) affected by these effects. Finally, samples characterized by high IgG concentration were those presenting on average greater concentration of AA. Findings suggest that infrared spectroscopy has the potential to be used to predict certain AA and minerals, outlining the possibility of implementing on-site analyses for the evaluation of the broad-sense BC quality.

Physicochemical, functional, and digestive characteristics of tea seed cake protein obtained by ultrafiltration.

To make full use of tea seed cake protein (TSCP), this study investigated the physicochemical and functional properties of TSCP, including the TSCP extract and three ultrafiltration fractions TSCP-1 (Mw > 10 kDa), TSCP-2 (3.5 kDa < Mw < 10 kDa), and TSCP-3 (Mw < 3.5 kDa). After ultrafiltration, the content, thermal stability, and surface hydrophobicity of TSCP were increased, and the molecular weight distribution and structure of TSCP showed significant differences. In terms of functionality, each fraction showed its advantages. Specifically, compared with the others, TSCP had better solubility and foaming properties, and TSCP-1 had significantly higher oil absorption capacity, and TSCP-2 had better water absorption capacity and emulsifying properties, and TSCP-3 can flow more easily (p < 0.05). In terms of nutritional value, the content of essential amino acids in all samples was sufficient. The degree of hydrolysis of TSCP was highest (80.98 ± 1.50%), and ultrafiltration decreased digestibility. These results indicated that ultrafiltration effectively improved the structure and functional properties of TSCP, and the obtained fractions can be applied to different scenarios. Practical Application: Tea seed cakes are rich in protein and usually regarded as byproducts during oil processing. Because of its good functional properties, tea seed cake proteins obtained by ultrafiltration have the potential to be used as ingredients for food.

Effect of solvent composition on the extraction of proteins from hemp oil processing stream.

BACKGROUND: Hempseed meal, a by-product of the hempseed oil processing stream, is a potential alternative source for food proteins. Efficient extraction of proteins from hempseed meal is challenging owing to differences in the structure and solubility of various protein fractions present in the seed. In the present study, protein was extracted from hempseed meal using four different solvents, including aqueous NaOH, KOH, NaHCO3 and NaCl, at four different concentrations with the aim of improving the recovery of protein fractions rich in essential amino acids. RESULTS: Extraction using alkaline solvents provided superior protein recovery (60-78%) compared with NaCl solution and control extractions (20-48% and 21%, respectively). The concentration of alkali or salt (0.25-1 mol L-1 ) had a minor but significant impact on the yield. Amino acid composition analysis revealed that hempseed meal contains 24% (54.5 ± 0.19 mg g-1 ) essential amino acids of total amino acids, and extraction with NaOH, KOH, NaHCO3 or NaCl did not improve the selective extraction of essential amino acids compared to control experiments. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis allowed the identification of edestin and albumin in the extracts obtained with NaHCO3 and NaCl solvents, with results further showing that the type of extraction solvent influences protein extraction selectivity. CONCLUSION: Although alkali solvents provide superior extraction yields, extraction with water resulted in extracts containing the highest proportion of proteins bearing essential amino acids. According to the results of SDS-PAGE, extraction using alkali solvents induced protein crosslinking. © 2022 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

A collagen hydrolysate/milk protein-blend stimulates muscle anabolism equivalently to an isoenergetic milk protein-blend containing a greater quantity of essential amino acids in older men.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Nutritional composition is key for skeletal muscle maintenance into older age. Yet the acute effects of collagen protein blended with other protein sources, in relation to skeletal muscle anabolism, are ill-defined. We investigated human muscle protein synthesis (MPS) responses to a 20 g blend of collagen protein hydrolysate + milk protein (CP+MP, 125 ml) oral nutritional supplement (ONS) vs. 20 g non-blended milk protein source (MP, 200 ml) ONS, in older adults. METHODS: Healthy older men (N = 8, 71±1 y, BMI: 27±1 kg·m-2) underwent a randomized trial of 20 g protein, from either a CP+MP blend (Fresubin®3.2 kcal DRINK), or a kcal-matched (higher in essential amino acids (EAA) ONS of MP alone. Vastus lateralis (VL) MPS and plasma AA were determined using stable isotope-tracer mass spectrometry; anabolic signaling was quantified via immuno-blotting in VL biopsies taken at baseline and 2/4 h after ONS feeding. Plasma insulin was measured via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Measures were taken at rest, after the feed (FED) and after the feed + exercise (FED-EX) conditions (unilateral leg exercise, 6 × 8, 75% 1-RM). RESULTS: MP resulted in a greater increase in plasma leucine (MP mean: 152 ± 6 µM, CP+MP mean: 113 ± 4 µM (Feed P < 0.001) and EAA (MP mean: 917 ± 25 µM, CP+MP mean: 786 ± 15 µM (Feed P < 0.01) than CP+MP. CP + MP increased plasma glycine (peak 385 ± 57 µM (P < 0.05)), proline (peak 323 ± 29 µM (P < 0.01)) and non-essential amino acids (NEAA) (peak 1621 ± 107 µM (P < 0.01)) with MP showing no increase. Plasma insulin increased in both trials (CP+MP: 58 ± 10 mU/mL (P < 0.01), MP: 42 ± 6 mU/mL (P < 0.01), with peak insulin greater with CP+MP vs. MP (P < 0.01). MPS demonstrated equivalent increases in response to CP+MP and MP under both FED (MP: 0.039 ± 0.005%/h to 0.081 ± 0.014%/h (P < 0.05), CP+MP: 0.042 ± 0.004%/h to 0.085 ± 0.007%/h (P < 0.05)) and FED-EX (MP: 0.039 ± 0.005%/h to 0.093 ± 0.013%/h (P < 0.01), CP+MP: 0.042 ± 0.004%/h to 0.105 ± 0.015%/h, (P < 0.01)) conditions. FED muscle p-mTOR fold-change from baseline increased to a greater extent with CP+MP vs. MP (P < 0.05), whilst FED-EX muscle p-eEF2 fold-change from baseline decreased to a greater extent with CP+MP vs. MP (P < 0.05); otherwise anabolic signaling responses were indistinguishable. CONCLUSION: Fresubin®3.2 kcal DRINK, which contains a 20 g mixed blend of CP+MP, resulted in equivalent MPS responses to MP alone. Fresubin® 3.2 Kcal DRINK may provide a suitable alternative to MP for use in older adults and a convenient way to supplement calories and protein to improve patient adherence and mitigate muscle mass loss.

Bioactive Compounds, Antioxidant Activity, and Antinutritional Content of Legumes: A Comparison between Four Phaseolus Species.

Beans (Phaseolus spp.) are one of the most important legumes for their nutritional value and health benefits in many world regions. In addition to Phaseolus vulgaris, there are four additional species that are cultivated in many regions of the world and are a source of food for human consumption: P. lunatus, P. coccineus, P. polyanthus, and P. acutifolius. In this work, phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity, and anti-nutritional compounds of 18 bean accessions, corresponding to four different species of the genus Phaseolus, were analyzed. In addition, their physical characteristics, proximate composition, and amino acid content were determined in order to compare their phytochemical composition and nutritional value. The species closest to each other in terms of essential amino acid content were P. polyanthus with P. vulgaris and P. lunatus with P. coccineus. Furthermore, there was a strong positive correlation between antioxidant activity and flavonoids, anthocyanins, and lectins with all the accessions collected. Significant differences in the content of phenolic compounds were found among the bean species studied. Therefore, in addition to P. vulgaris, other species such as P. coccineus and P. lunatus have high biological and antioxidant potential that could be beneficial to human health when consumed as nutraceutical foods.

Natural Fermentation of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) Flour Improves the Nutritive Utilization of Indispensable Amino Acids and Phosphorus by Growing Rats.

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is among the most cultivated legumes, with interesting agronomic and environmental properties, and great potential as a nutritious food. The nutritional value of cowpea can be improved by technological processing. In this study, we showed that natural fermentation improved bioavailability of protein, amino acids, and dietary essential minerals from cowpea in growing rats, thus strengthening its potential value as functional food or food supplement. Forty Wistar albino rats (48 ± 1.8 g), were fed one of four experimental diets (n = 10 rats per diet): casein, raw cowpea, fermented cowpea or fermented and autoclaved cowpea. Despite lower growth indices of raw and fermented cowpea protein (PER, FTI) than casein, fermentation enhanced apparent digestibility of arginine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, and valine, and true digestibility of essential amino acids, except for tyrosine and valine, compared to raw cowpea. On the other hand, autoclaving of fermented cowpea flour decreased apparent, as did true digestibility of sulfur amino acids. Regarding the nutritive utilization of dietary essential minerals, Vigna unguiculata was a good source of available P, Mg, and K, while fermentation significantly improved the availability of P. Overall, cowpea was a good source of digestible essential amino acids and minerals and fermentation significantly improved its nutritional value that was not further enhanced by autoclaving.

[Main nutrients and functional ingredients in shoots of Polygonatum cyrtonema].

In order to reveal the main nutrients and functional ingredients in the shoots of Polygonatum cyrtonema, the polysaccharides, proteins, amino acids, and total phenols were determined. The tested samples cultured in Ma'nijiaonong, Hengtang village, Tianmushan town, Lin'an, Zhejiang, which were collected from three provenances(Pan'an and Longquan in Zhejiang and Qingyang in Anhui). The results showed that the polysaccharide content of the shoots varied from 2.34% to 12.73%, roughly one-third of rhizomes. The protein content varied from 107.75 to 192.49 mg·g~(-1), nearly 5.50 times more than rhizomes. Moreover, the average of total amino acid content was 193.13-248.74 mg·g~(-1), approximately 4.16 times of rhizomes. And the essential amino acids account for 35.57%-39.44% of the total amino acids content, which was close to the standard of the ideal protein proposed by FAO/WHO(the essential amino acid/total amino acid is about 40%). In addition, the taste amino acids(TaAA) changed from 160.12 to 208.29 mg·g~(-1), revealing the material basis of "shoots were extremely delicious" in Chinese ancient herbal medicine. Additionally, the total phenols varied from 51.21-58.76 mg·g~(-1), about 2.96 times of rhizomes. The DPPH free radical scavenging rate of tested shoots was over 95%, which obviously superior to rhizomes. Therefore, the shoots of P. cyrtonema is a very high-quality vegetable and functional food with good development potential. Furthermore, the main nutrients and functional substances in P. cyrtonema shoots are closely related to the provenances and harvesting seasons. It is important to improve the quality and yield of the shoots by strengthening the variety of breeding and cultivation techniques.

Metabolomic Analysis of Liver from Dietary Biotin Deficient Mice.

Biotin is a water-soluble B-complex vitamin that functions as a cofactor of five carboxylases. Because biotin-dependent carboxylases catalyze indispensable cellular metabolic functions, biotin deficiency is considered to be involved in various pathological conditions. Moreover, biotin supplementation shows pharmacological effects in vivo. However, the precise mechanisms by which biotin deficiency induces pathological conditions remain unclear. Although abnormal metabolites are used as indicators for biotin deficiency, few comprehensive analyses of total metabolites have been reported. In this study, we analyzed the metabolomic profiles of liver extracts prepared from biotin-sufficient (BS) and -deficient (BD) mice. Thirteen of 126 metabolites showed significantly different concentrations between liver extracts from BD and BS mice. The concentrations of 5 essential amino acids, Met, Val, Thr, Ile, and Leu, and 2 conditionally essential amino acids, Cys and Tyr were significantly lower in BD mice than in BS mice. Among these, the concentrations of sulfur-containing amino acids, Cys and Met, were more than 1.5-fold lower in BD mice. The concentrations of Met metabolites, such as S-adenosylmethionine and S-adenosylhomocysteine were not significantly different between the two groups. The concentrations of glutathione and its reaction intermediates γ-Glu-Cys tendency to be lower in BD mice. The present study revealed that biotin deficiency induces an abnormal amino acids composition, especially among sulfur-containing amino acids and provide important information on the effect of biotin as a pharmacological agent.

Effects of rumen-protected methionine and other essential amino acid supplementation on milk and milk component yields in lactating Holstein cows.

Objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of supplementing rumen-protected methionine (RP-Met), threonine (RP-Thr), isoleucine (RP-Ile), and leucine (RP-Leu) individually or jointly to a low-protein diet, on the performance of lactating dairy cows, as well as to determine the effects of these amino acids (AA) on the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in vivo. Ten lactating Holstein cows were randomly allocated to a repeated 5 × 5 Latin square experiment with five 19-d periods. Treatments were high-protein diet (16% crude protein, positive control; HP), low-protein diet (12% crude protein, negative control; LP), LP plus RP-Met (LPM), LP plus RP-Met and RP-Thr (LPMT), and LP plus RP-Met, RP-Thr, RP-Ile, and RP-Leu (LPMTIL). The dry matter intakes (DMI) of the LP, LPM, and LPMT diets were lower than that of the HP diet, whereas the DMI of the LPMTIL diet was intermediate between the HP diet and the other LP diets. Supplementing RP-Met to the LP diet increased the yields of milk and milk protein, increased the content of milk urea N, and tended to increase milk N efficiency. Co-supplementation of RP-Thr with RP-Met resulted in no further milk production increase. Co-supplementation of all 4 rumen-protected amino acids (RP-AA) increased milk and lactose yields to the level of the HP diet and tended to increase milk protein yield compared with the LPMT diet. We found no significant differences in the contents and yields of milk components between the LPMTIL and HP diets except for a lower milk urea N content in the LPMTIL diet. Venous concentrations of the measured AA were similar across the LP and LP diets supplemented with RP-AA. Relative to levels of the HP diet, LP diets had higher venous concentrations of Met and Gly and tended to have higher Phe concentration and lower concentrations of Val and BCAA. The LPMTIL diet had higher venous concentrations of Arg, Lys, Met, Phe, and Glu, and a lower Val concentration. Phosphorylation status of the measured mTOR components in LPM and LPMT treatments were similar to those in the LP treatment but phosphorylation status of mTOR and eIF4E-binding protein 1 (4eBP1) in LPMTIL treatment were higher. The phosphorylation rates of eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2) in the 4 LP and LP plus RP-AA diets were higher than that of the HP diet. Overall, results of the present study supported the concept that under the relatively short time of this experiment, supplementing RP-AA, which are believed to stimulate the mTOR signal pathway, can lead to increased milk protein yield. This increase appears to be due to increased DMI, greater mTOR signaling, and greater eEF2 activity.

Comparative analysis of protein composition and digestibility of Ceratonia siliqua L. and Prosopis spp. seed germ flour.

By virtue of exclusive nutrient composition and nutritional properties, seed germ flours from both European carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) and South American algarrobo (Prosopis alba and Prosopis nigra) or vinal (Prosopis ruscifolia) have potential as a high nutritional value and health-promoting ingredient for food formulations. In order to define their compositional and functional properties, we investigated the germ protein content of carob compared to the P. alba, P. nigra and P. ruscifolia counterparts, applying proteomics and complementary methods. The mono- and two-dimensional electrophoretic profiles of Prosopis spp. were very similar among one another, while C. siliqua exhibited significant differences. Attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy highlighted a dominant ß-sheet structural conformation for C. siliqua, suggesting that carob germ flour might more suited than Prosopis germ flour for baking and food technological applications. In contrast, Prosopis spp. contained a more adequate nutritional value than C. siliqua, in terms of essential amino acid complement. Both carob and algarrobo germ flour samples were highly digestible, as demonstrated by in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion, releasing high amounts of free amino acids and only minor proportions of low molecular weight peptides.

Effect of Hazelnut Oil on Muscle Cell Signalling and Differentiation.

Nuts-enriched diets were shown to bear beneficial effects for human's health. Among nuts, hazelnut plays a major role in human nutrition and health because of its unique fatty acid composition (predominantly MUFA), fat soluble bioactives (tocopherols and phytosterols), vitamins (vitamin E), essential minerals (selenium), essential amino acids, antioxidant phenolics (caffeic acid), dietary fiber (soluble form), and bioactive phtytochemicals. The current study was designed to explore the cellular effects of two particular hazelnut strains (Ordu and Tonda).Four hazelnut oils were obtained from 2 common strains (Ordu hazelnut oil, Ordu cuticle oil, Tonda "gentile" hazelnut oil, Tonda "gentile" cuticle oil). The metabolic and nutritional effects of the four hazelnut oils were assessed using an in vitro model of mouse myoblasts, identifying the intracellular mechanisms involved in muscle differentiation and in the modulation of specific muscle genes.We demonstrated that hazelnut oils induced morphological changes in neo-formed myotubes increasing myotubes size. In particular, the diversified effects of the hazelnuts and cuticle oils on muscle fibres shape (on length and diameter respectively) determine a diversified pattern of action on elongation or hypertrophy of the muscle fibres. Furthermore, hazelnut oils regulate different pathways associated with myoblasts growth and development, stimulate signal transduction, and activate cell commitment and differentiation. The present results provide evidence that hazelnut oils may affect skeletal muscle growth and differentiation, constituting the proof of principle for the future development of novel foods and integrators.

Protein.

Proteins are polymers of amino acids linked via α-peptide bonds. They can be represented as primary, secondary, tertiary, and even quaternary structures, but from a nutritional viewpoint only the primary (amino acid) sequence is of interest. Similarly, although there are many compounds in the body that can be chemically defined as amino acids, we are only concerned with the 20 canonical amino acids encoded in DNA, plus 5 others-ornithine, citrulline, γ-aminobutyrate, ß-alanine, and taurine-that play quantitatively important roles in the body. We consume proteins, which are digested in the gastrointestinal tract, absorbed as small peptides (di- and tripeptides) and free amino acids, and then used for the resynthesis of proteins in our cells. Additionally, some amino acids are also used for the synthesis of specific (nonprotein) products, such as nitric oxide, polyamines, creatine, glutathione, nucleotides, glucosamine, hormones, neurotransmitters, and other factors. Again, such functions are not quantitatively important for most amino acids, and the bulk of amino acid metabolism is directly related to protein turnover (synthesis and degradation). For an individual in nitrogen balance, an amount of protein equal to that of the daily protein (nitrogen) intake is degraded each day with the nitrogen being excreted as urea and ammonia (with limited amounts of creatinine and uric acid). The carbon skeletons of the amino acids degraded to urea and ammonia are recovered through gluconeogenesis or ketone synthesis, or oxidized to carbon dioxide. Of the 20 amino acids present in proteins, 9 are considered nutritionally indispensable (essential) in adult humans because the body is not able to synthesize their carbon skeletons. These 9 amino acids are leucine, valine, isoleucine, histidine, lysine, methionine, threonine, tryptophan, and phenylalanine. In addition, 2 others are made from their indispensable precursors: cysteine from methionine, and tyrosine from phenylalanine. Although arginine is needed in neonates, it appears that adults, with the possible exceptions of pregnancy in females and spermatogenesis in males, can synthesize sufficient arginine to maintain a nitrogen balance. The others, glutamate, glutamine, aspartate, asparagine, serine, glycine, proline, and alanine, can all be synthesized from glucose and a suitable nitrogen source. Under some conditions, glutamine, glutamate, glycine, proline, and arginine may be considered as conditionally indispensable, meaning that the body is not capable of synthesizing them in sufficient quantities for a specific physiologic or pathologic condition (1). Thus, any discussion of dietary protein must consider not only quantity but also quality (ratio of indispensable amino acids).

Applications for α-lactalbumin in human nutrition.

α-Lactalbumin is a whey protein that constitutes approximately 22% of the proteins in human milk and approximately 3.5% of those in bovine milk. Within the mammary gland, α-lactalbumin plays a central role in milk production as part of the lactose synthase complex required for lactose formation, which drives milk volume. It is an important source of bioactive peptides and essential amino acids, including tryptophan, lysine, branched-chain amino acids, and sulfur-containing amino acids, all of which are crucial for infant nutrition. α-Lactalbumin contributes to infant development, and the commercial availability of α-lactalbumin allows infant formulas to be reformulated to have a reduced protein content. Likewise, because of its physical characteristics, which include water solubility and heat stability, α-lactalbumin has the potential to be added to food products as a supplemental protein. It also has potential as a nutritional supplement to support neurological function and sleep in adults, owing to its unique tryptophan content. Other components of α-lactalbumin that may have usefulness in nutritional supplements include the branched-chain amino acid leucine, which promotes protein accretion in skeletal muscle, and bioactive peptides, which possess prebiotic and antibacterial properties. This review describes the characteristics of α-lactalbumin and examines the potential applications of α-lactalbumin for human health.

Multi-functional application of Moringa oleifera Lam. in nutrition and animal food products: A review.

Research on the use of various parts of the Moringa oleifera Lam. plant (M. oleifera) as a nutritional and neutraceutical resource for human and animal diets has increased in recent years, emanating from the widespread use of the plant in traditional cuisines and medicinal remedies in several regions of the world. Analytical studies have identified M. oleifera as an important source of essential nutrients; rich in protein, essential amino acids, minerals, and vitamins, with a relatively low amount of antinutrients. It is also a rich source of other bio active compounds including flavonoids and phenolic compounds; with several studies detailing demonstrated in vitro and in vivo functional properties, most substantially, antioxidant activities. Moringa oleifera consumption has been reported to improve the health status, feed conversion efficiency, growth performance and product quality of several livestock species, at dietary inclusion rates generally not exceeding 5% of total dry matter intake. Fortification of processed foods with M. oleifera has been reported to increase nutritional value, some organoleptic properties, oxidative stability and product shelf life; with a notable need for further analytical and consumer studies in the development of these products. There is a paucity of literature detailing clinical studies, nutrient bioavailability, toxicity and the mode of action of the bioactive compounds to which the health claims associated with M. oleifera consumption are attributed. Many of these are not yet fully understood; therefore more research in these areas is required in order to fully utilize the potential benefits of this plant in human and livestock nutrition.

Nutritional Value of Commercial Protein-Rich Plant Products.

The goal of this work was to analyze nutritional value of various minimally processed commercial products of plant protein sources such as faba bean (Vicia faba), lupin (Lupinus angustifolius), rapeseed press cake (Brassica rapa/napus subsp. Oleifera), flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum), oil hemp seed (Cannabis sativa), buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum), and quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa). Basic composition and various nutritional components like amino acids, sugars, minerals, and dietary fiber were determined. Nearly all the samples studied could be considered as good sources of essential amino acids, minerals and dietary fiber. The highest content of crude protein (over 30 g/100 g DW) was found in faba bean, blue lupin and rapeseed press cake. The total amount of essential amino acids (EAA) ranged from 25.8 g/16 g N in oil hemp hulls to 41.5 g/16 g N in pearled quinoa. All the samples studied have a nutritionally favorable composition with significant health benefit potential. Processing (dehulling or pearling) affected greatly to the contents of analyzed nutrients.

Zinc biofortification improves phytochemicals and amino-acidic profile in Brassica oleracea cv. Bronco.

Zn deficiency is currently listed as a major risk factor for human health. Recently, a complimentary solution to mineral malnutrition termed 'biofortification' has been proposed. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible effects of a Zn-biofortification program on Zn levels, amino acidic profile and the phytochemicals content in an edible leafy vegetable, such as Brassica oleracea cv. Bronco. Our results indicate that supplementation of 80-100µM Zn is optimal for maintaining the normal growth of plants and to promote the major Zn concentration in the edible part of B. oleracea. Any further increase of Zn supply induced an accumulation of total amino acids, and increased the enzymatic activities involved in sulfur assimilation and synthesis of phenols, finally resulting in a foliar accumulation of glucosinolates and phenolic compounds. Thus, it could be proposed that the growth of B. oleracea under 80-100µM Zn may increase the intake of this micronutrient and other beneficial compunds for the human health.

Protein and Amino Acid Profiles of Different Whey Protein Supplements.

Whey protein (WP) supplements have received increasing attention by consumers due to the high nutritional value of the proteins and amino acids they provide. However, some WP supplements may not contain the disclosed amounts of the ingredients listed on the label, compromising the nutritional quality and the effectiveness of these supplements. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the contents of total protein (TP), α-lactalbumin (α-LA), ß-lactoglobulin (ß-LG), free essential amino acids (free EAA), and free branched-chain amino acids (free BCAA), amongst different WP supplements produced by U.S. and Brazilian companies. Twenty commercial brands of WP supplements were selected, ten manufactured in U.S. (WP-USA) and ten in Brazil (WP-BRA). The TP was analyzed using the Kjeldahl method, while α-LA, ß-LG, free EAA, and free BCAA were analyzed using HPLC system. There were higher (p < 0.05) concentrations of TP, α-LA, ß-LG, and free BCAA in WP-USA supplements, as compared to the WP-BRA supplements; however, there was no difference (p > 0.05) in the content of free EAA between WP-USA and WP-BRA. Amongst the 20 brands evaluated, four WP-USA and seven WP-BRA had lower (p < 0.05) values of TP than those specified on the label. In conclusion, the WP-USA supplements exhibited better nutritional quality, evaluated by TP, α-LA, ß-LG, and free BCAA when compared to WP-BRA.

Therapeutic Potential of Young Green Barley Leaves in Prevention and Treatment of Chronic Diseases: An Overview.

Medicinal plants have played a major role as a functional food and pharmacological source of active substances. Barley grass (BG) is young green barley leaves. It is the young grass of the common barley plant Hordeum vulgare L. of the family Poeaceae (Graminae). It is a type of green grasses, and the only vegetation on the earth that can supply sole nutritional support from birth to old age. It contains a wide spectrum of vitamins, minerals, as well as eight essential amino acids that we must get from our diets. BG possesses several pharmacological activities as anticancer activity, anti-oxidant activity and anti-inflammatory activity. It has been argued that BG helps blood flow, digestion and general detoxification of the body. The major pharmacologic interest of BG is its use in the treatment of chronic diseases. The beneficial effects observed in chronic disease may be related to bioactive compounds contained in BG such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and bioflavonoids (lutonarin and saponarin). Thus, this paper is focused on the various studies that emphasize the therapeutic potential of BG in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases.

Characterization of Fatty Acid, Amino Acid and Volatile Compound Compositions and Bioactive Components of Seven Coffee (Coffea robusta) Cultivars Grown in Hainan Province, China.

Compositions of fatty acid, amino acids, and volatile compound were investigated in green coffee beans of seven cultivars of Coffea robusta grown in Hainan Province, China. The chlorogenic acids, trigonelline, caffeine, total lipid, and total protein contents as well as color parameters were measured. Chemometric techniques, principal component analysis (PCA), hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), and analysis of one-way variance (ANOVA) were performed on the complete data set to reveal chemical differences among all cultivars and identify markers characteristic of a particular botanical origin of the coffee. The major fatty acids of coffee were linoleic acid, palmitic acid, oleic acid, and arachic acid. Leucine (0.84 g/100 g DW), lysine (0.63 g/100 g DW), and arginine (0.61 g/100 g DW) were the predominant essential amino acids (EAAs) in the coffee samples. Seventy-nine volatile compounds were identified and semi-quantified by HS-SPME/GC-MS. PCA of the complete data matrix demonstrated that there were significant differences among all cultivars, HCA supported the results of PCA and achieved a satisfactory classification performance.

A comparison of the carcass and meat quality of Martina Franca donkey foals aged 8 or 12 months.

The effects of slaughter age (8 vs 12 months) were investigated on meat and carcass quality obtained from Martina Franca donkey foals. Sixteen male foals were used, eight were slaughtered at 8 months of age with a mean (±s.e.) final body weight of 101±18kg and the remaining 8 foals slaughtered at 12 months of age with a mean final body weight of 122±13kg. Carcass weight and dressing percentage were higher (P<0.05) in older foals. Shear force value was lower (P<0.05) in donkeys slaughtered at 8 months of age (54.03N) compared to the same muscle Longissimus Thoracis et Lumborum (LTL) collected in older animals (62.66N). Muscle glycogen content was higher (P<0.05) in foals slaughtered at 12months of age. Donkey foal meat showed an interesting content of essential amino acids and a notable percentage of unsaturated fatty acids in both groups of animals, giving a high nutritional value to this alternative red meat.